Spindle idler mechanism



March 31, 1959 o. E. BUTCHER 2,879,639

SPINDLE IDLER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 1, 195a 2 Sheets-sheaf. 1

2a 42 I9 I H 22 34 z, I l6 i /0 t 1/ Z6 27], M 25 INVENTOR.

05mm!) 5. flare/we March 1959 o. E. BUTCHER 2,879,639

SPINDLE IDLER MECHANISM Filed Nov. 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Tia E INVENTOR. 05mm 5 BUTCHER ATMRA/EYJ United SPINDLE IDLER MECHANISM Application November 1, 1956, Serial No. 619,857 3 Claims. or. 5788) This invention relates to an idler mechanism for spinning machine spindles, and more particularly to an idler mechanism which permits a spindle to be stopped during operation of the machine without presenting an increased drag on the driving belt or interfering with the proper operation of the other spindles where several spindles are driven by a common belt.

As is well-known in the art of spinning or doubling, it is highly desirable and even necessary to apply and maintain a predetermined and uniform degree of twist to the yarn as it is being wound onto the spindles of the Patent machine. As is to be expected during normal operation of the spinning frame or machine, there are occasional breaks in the yarn as it is being wound upon the spindles, and it becomes necessary to stop the particular spindle momentarily in some fashion so that the broken yarn can be spliced, although at the same time it is highly desirable that the other spindles being driven by the same belt continue to operate at the usual speed in order to maintain the proper twist on their yarn strands.

In the past, when relatively smaller spindles were used in comparison with the present larger spindles, any spindle was usually stopped and held by hand against the force of the driving belt while a broken yarn was spliced. The belt was thus caused to slip on the whorl or driving pulley of the spindle being held. This provided an additional drag on the belt and resulted in a.

different speed of the other spindles continuing in operation, hence a dilferent and undesired twist was imparted to their respective yarns. Furthermore, the slippage increased the wear of the driving belt and caused it to heat up, which under certain circumstances proved disadvanboth hands free to effect the splice more quickly with a 5 shorter disturbance of the proper operation of the ma chine. Various types of such mechanical brakes are still in use today, with their concomitant disadvantages prevailing. All have the same fault in that consistency of twist cannot be assured. Furthermore, in many cases the operator would neglect to release the brake after splicing, in which case the resultant drag on the belt and the deleterious results therefrom might continue for long periods of time.

Recently woven tape of a spun synthetic polyamide (-e.g. nylon) has shown unexpected operational advantages as a driving belt especially adapted for spinning machines. Such "tape is disclosed with particularity in copending application Serial No. 502,657, filed April 20, 1955.

2,879,639 Patented Mar. 31, 1 959 smooth running of the tape around the whorls or driving pulleys of the spindles is thus assured. Driving belts made of this material have raised the optimum spindle speed. They give a more uniform spindle speed (e.g., the belt does not jump away when the joined ends pass around a whorl) and a greater consistency of twist is thus achieved. Further remarkable advantages are a greatly reduced slip and a significantly lower power consumption (of the order of seven to twenty percent).

. When using the nylon woventape driving belt on a spinning machine employing one of the aforementioned braking methods, the heat generated by the slippage of the belt around the stopped whorl has a deleterious effect on the belt by virture of the thermoplastic quality of the woven polyamide material, and stretching, brittleness, breaking and other similar undesirable effects may be encountered after continued usage under such conditions. Consequently, the aforementioned great advantages of the new belt are not always realized to the fullest extent when employing one of the above braking systems, and the present invention has particular utility when used in connection with nylon tapes or belts on spinning frames.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for selectively stopping the spindles on a spinning machine to effect repairs to broken yarns or the like without causing the driving belt to be heated up by virtue of such stoppage.

' Another object is to provide means for selectively removing a spindle whorl from operative contact with the driving belt so that the spindle may be stopped for splic ing a broken yarn or the like without disturbing the operation of the other spindles.

A further object is to provide an idler means for each spindle on a spinning machine which can be selectively operated to remove the driving belt from operative contact with such spindle without disturbing the alignment of the belt with the other spindles or the driving cylinder.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide the combination of. a spinning machine driving belt of a thermoplastic material affording remarkably improved operational performance, in conjunction with a friction-free type of idler'means for permitting such belt to continue proper operation of a spinning frame without deleterious effects, while one or more of the spindles thereon are stopped for repairs, such as a broken yarn or the like.

Other objects and features of this invention will become apparent from reading the following specification and claims, and the drawings, in which:

Fig. l is aplan viewof one type of spinning frame employing the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one spindle unit;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a single spindle unit;

Fig. 4 is a partially sectionalized elevation of a spindle unit taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of aportion of another embodiment of a spindle unit;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a spindle unit including a braking means;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figs. 6 and 7 shown in 'a shifted position. I

Referring to Fig. 4, one embodiment of the presentiinvention is shown as assembled on a standard spindle unit.

Base plate 10 is rotatably aflixed to the spindle support 3 ing frame 11 by'the spindle bottom journal 12, which is disposed through the central hole 13 of the base plate and is held by the usual journal support 14.

Formed integrally with the spindle 15 at a portion thereof adjacent the upper surface 16 of the base. plate 10, is a whorl or driving pulley 17. An idler means or pulley 18 is rotatably mounted'on the base plate 19 and is radially disposed thereon adjacent to the. driving pulley 17 so that the respectivev belt-engaging portions 19, 2d of both pulleys are in substantial alignment as shown.

Any conventional type of mount can be used for the idler pulley 18, such as the stepped shaft 21 shown which is attached in a vertical position to the base plate. inany suitable fashion, or can. be formed integrally therewith. The idler pulley 18. is rotatably secured to the. shaft 21 by the screw and washerrneans 22 connected to. the upper end thereof.

Mounted on the upper. surface 160i the, base plate 10 is a spring, means 23 comprised of a leaf spring 24 which biases ball bearing 25, located in a hole ,26 extending through the base plate 10, against the supporting frame 11 and into either of two angularly displaced holes 27a, 27b in the latter whenever brought into register therewith by rotation or swinging of the baseplate 10 (see also Fig. 2).

A shifting means or handle 28 is aiiixed to the upper surface 16 of the base plate. 10 to provide means for swinging said plate relative to, the supporting frame 11 (.see also Fig. 3).

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are shown a refined embodiment of the invention. Included with the apparatus as described above is a brake meansv 2,9, comprised of a lever arm 30 pivotally mounted atone end 31 to the supporting frame 11 adjacent the driving pulley 17, and having an upper portion 32 extending toward the driving pulley 17 with an upwardly flanged end portion 33 alignable with the belt engaging portion 20 of said pulley. The end portion 33 has the usual type of brake, lining material 34 (e.g., leather, asbestos, etc.) affixed, thereto. Spring means 35 is connected between the upper portion 32 and supporting frame 11 and biases the lever arm 30 toward the driving pulley 17 so as to bring the end portion 33 of the lever arm into contact with the belt engaging portion 20 of the driving pulley 17 when the apparatus is disposed as shown in Fig. 8.

Affixed to the base plate 10 is a bracket or cam means 36 which has an upwardly extending portion 37 having an angular cam member 38 on its upper end 39 as shown. The cam member 38 is engageable with the lever arm 30 when base plate 10 is appropriately rotated, to bear against the lever arm 30 and move it away from. the driving pulley 17 against the bias of the spring means 35.

The base plate 10. may be. cut. away as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 to permit a close disposition of brake means 29 and cam means 36 relative to the spindle 15, or they may be mounted in any other suitable fashion just so the proper interaction is achieved.

A typical spinning frame installation is shown in Fig. 1. Two pairs of spindle units 40 are vertically disposed on opposite sides of a horizontal driving cylinder 41, and a driving belt 42 is disposedaround the driving pulleys 17 of. all the spindles 15, around the driving cylinder 41 and an adjacent tensioning pulley 4 3. Thus the belt 42 passes from the driving cylinder to one. spindle 15of each pair and thence directly in a straight flight to the other spindle of said pair, as shown. This is the normal operating arrangement of the respectiveparts.

The rotary movement of the driving cylinder 41 imparts rotational movement to the spindles 15 by means of the belt 42 which .is in operative contact with the beltengaging portions 20 of all the respective, driving pulleys 17. The base plate 10 of each, spindle unit is maintained in such position by the springmeans23 in cooperation with one of the. holes 27a. in the supporting frame. 11. In. this. particul r p sition th idl r. Pu y 18. arev ou of contact or disengaged from the driving belt 42,-as

shown.

Whenever it is desired to stop one or more of the spindles while permitting the rest to remain in proper operation, its base plate 10 is selectively swung or rotated from the above described position to a second position where the spring means 23 is brought in alignment with the second hole 27b in the frame 11. This removably locks the base plate 10 in the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the idler pulley 18 is engaged. with the driving belt 42 and the driver pulley is disengaged therefrom.

In order that the above change in position can be most smoothly effected, it is advisable to swing the base. plate 10 of any spindle. unit so that the. idler pulley 18 engages the belt 42 at a portion thereof intermediate the particular spindle pair involved, and to further rotate the base plate 10 beyond the point of such engagement only enough to, ensure disengagement of thebelt; 42,. from. the driver pulley 17. The second hole. 27b should host) located in the supporting frame 11 to provide. such, a rotational limit.

By not laterally displacing the belt 42. to any greater degree than is necessary, the proper operation ofthe other spindles is nOt disturbed, and, especially where either of the spindles on opposite sides of the connections to the cylinder 41 and tensioning pulley 43 may be, involved, the proper alignment of the. belt 42 with either of the latter two is maintained.

The location of the first hole 27a in the frame H is not so critical, and can be positioned so that the. idler pulley 18 is not wholly disengaged from the belt 42, although the better practice now appears to. be that complete disengagement of the two is more advisable.

Limiting means (not shown) may be provided to permit swinging of the base plate 10 only along the shorter are between the locations of the two holes, as above described.

Employing the other embodiment described above, and shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the normal operating arrangement of the apparatus is depicted in Figs. 6 and 7, where.- in the cam means, 36 is engaged with the lever. arm 30 and holds it out of contact with the driving pulley: 17 which is in operative contact with, and being caused to rotate by, the belt 42.

When the base plate 10 is swung to the aforementioned second position (as shown in Fig. 8), the cam means 36 and lever arm 30 are disengaged from one another and the end portion 33. of the lever arm 30 engages. thedriving pulley 17, which is out of operative contact with the belt 42, and this brings the spindle 15 to a stop. I

A further refinement is shown in Fig.5. The, idler pulley 18 may be mounted on a goose-necked shaft 441,0 bring it in closer proximity to driving pulley 17-and thereby decrease the angular rotation of the base. plate 10 required to effect separation of the belt 42: andithe driving pulley 17.

With the above described apparatus, it is now possible to achieve maximum operational effectiveness with the new woven tape of spun synthetic polyamide material. Splices or breaks in yarn can be repaired by stopping any spindle without interfe fiug with the proper operation of the other spindles, and both hands of the operator are now free to make the splice. There. is no danger of causing the driving belt 42 to heat up during such repairs because there is no longer slippage of the. belt around a stationary driver pulley 17. On the contrary; there is now provided a freely rotatable idler pulley. 1,8, to hold the belt away from the particular driver pulley 17 as desired.

While one embodiment of the present invention has been shown or described, itis to be understood-that certain changes or additions can be made by those skilled in the art. For example, well-known means other than the above-described base platev 10 can 'be employed to mount and swing the idler means 18, and other means can be used to temporarily lock the apparatus in position with one or the other pulley in engagement with the driving belt. These and other obvious changes can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a spinning frame having a plurality of spindles each having a driving pulley, all driven by a single belt, each spindle having a rotatably shiftable base plate, an idler pulley rotatably mounted on said base plate, said base plate being reversible shiftable from a first position wherein said driving pulley is operatively engaged with said belt and said idler pulley is disengaged therefrom, to a second position in which said idler pulley is engaged with said 'belt and said belt is disengaged from said driving pulley, a spring biased brake means mounted on said frame adjacent said driving pulley and engageable therewith in said second position, and cam means mounted on said base plate for holding said brake means out of contact with said driving pulley in said first position.

2. In a spinning frame having a plurality of spindles driven by a belt from a driving cylinder, each spindle having a driving pulley engaging said belt and a rotatably shiftable base plate, an idler pulley rotatably mounted on said base plate, said base plate being reversibly shiftable from a first position wherein said driving pulley is operatively engaged with said belt and said idler pulley is disengaged therefrom, to a second position in which said idler pulley is engaged with said belt and said belt is disengaged from the driving pulley, said idler pulley being engageable and disengageable with said belt in effecting the above positions Without disturbing the alignment of said belt with said cylinder, a spring biased brake means mounted on said frame adjacent said driving pulley and engageable therewith in said second position, and cam means mounted on said base plate for holding said brake means out of contact with said driving pulley in said first position.

3. In a spinning frame having a plurality of spindles driven in pairs by a belt passing from a driving cylinder to one spindle of each pair and thence directly in a straight flight to the other spindle of said pair, each spindle unit having a driving pulley and a rotatably shiftable base plate, an idler pulley radially disposed on said base plate relative to said driving pulley, said base plate being reversibly swingable from a first position wherein said driving pulley is operatively engaged with said belt and said idler pulley is disengaged therefrom, to a sec ond position in which said idler pulley is engaged with the straight flight of said belt and said belt is disengaged from said driving pulley, said idler pulley being thereby engageable and disengageable with respect to said belt at a portion thereon intermediate the spindles of the respective pair without disturbing the alignment of said belt with respect to said cylinder, a spring biased brake means mounted on said frame adjacent said driving pulley and engageable therewith in said second position, and cam means mounted on said base plate for holding said brake means out of contact with said driving pulley in said first position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,339,190 Provencher Jan. 11, 1944 2,505,354 Gartrell et al. Apr. 25, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,761 Great Britain of 1896 492,958 Great Britain Sept. 30, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Noo 2,879,639 March 31, 1959 Oswald E. Butcher It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 12, for "reversible" read reversibly Signed and sealed this 29th day of September 1959 (SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Oflicer Commissioner of Patents 

